Apple Chief Financial Officer talks about the iPod Halo

Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer held a session last week at the Goldman Sachs Technology Investment Symposium, to answer questions about Apple's current products and the future.

Analysts and industry experts have talked much about the "halo" effect of iPod sales, or the idea that continued sales of iPods to Windows PC owners will eventually translate into increased Mac sales. Although Apple's marketshare hasn't moved significantly yet, Oppenheimer said there is anecdotal evidence to suggest that things are moving in that direction, including a steady stream (in the range of low to mid 40 percent) of first-time Mac buyers at the Apple retail stores and increased uptake of iBook and PowerBook systems by high school and college students who have already bought iPods -- an assertion supported by college student market research firm Student Monitor.